Holy Saturday Liturgy

The Holy Saturday Liturgy is a very short office said at 10 a.m. in the Nave. Holy Saturday is the 40th day of the Lenten Fast and the office commemorates the last day that Jesus’ body lay in the tomb. 

The Great Vigil of Easter

The Saturday evening liturgy, the night before the Day of Resurrection, is the liturgy in the tradition in the Book of Common Prayer, from which all other liturgies derive their meaning and purpose.  Those assembled light the New Fire and by candlelight keep vigil in anticipation of the Resurrection celebration. Lessons from the salvation history of the People of God are read. Dear ones are brought to baptism, confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation. The Paschal Shout goes up, and the first Eucharist of Easter is celebrated.

12 p.m.
The Good Friday Liturgy is offered at noon so as to have the Cathedral’s gathering conform to the historical hour of the Crucifixion. The liturgy includes the Liturgy of the Word, Sermon, the Solemn Collects, the Veneration of the Cross, the Reproaches, and Communion from the Reserved Sacrament.

Childcare available 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m.
Join the Reverend Vicki Burgess at Good Friday Worship at Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church: “The last seven sayings of Jesus.”

Maundy Thursday, observed by the Episcopal Church, commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his apostles. It's a significant day in the Christian liturgical calendar, falling on the Thursday before Easter Sunday. The word "Maundy" is derived from the Latin word "mandatum," meaning commandment, referring to Jesus' commandment to his disciples to love one another as he loved them.

In the Episcopal Church, Maundy Thursday is often marked with a special liturgy that includes the washing of feet, symbolizing Jesus' act of humility and service to his disciples. This ritual underscores the importance of servanthood and love within the Christian community. Additionally, the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is celebrated, reflecting the Last Supper where Jesus instituted the sacrament of communion.

Maundy Thursday also initiates the Triduum, the three-day period leading up to Easter Sunday, which includes Good Friday and Holy Saturday. These days are considered among the holiest in the Christian faith, as they focus on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Childcare available 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.

Tenebrae is a Latin word meaning “darkness,” and is the popular name for the special forms of the offices of Mattins and Lauds appointed for the last three days in Holy Week. Again this year, Tenebrae will be in Taizé form.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the service is the gradual extinguishing of the candles until only one is left, which is then concealed for a time until a loud noise is made (signifying the earthquake at the time of the Resurrection), whereupon the hidden candle is restored to its place in anticipation of the Resurrection. The congregation then departs in silence.

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

The Sunday before Easter at which Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21:1-11, Mk 11:1-11a, Lk 19:29-40) and Jesus’ Passion on the cross (Mt 26:36-27:66, Mk 14:32-15:47, Lk 22:39-23:56) are recalled. It is also known as the Sunday of the Passion. Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week. Red is the liturgical color for the day. The observance of Palm Sunday in Jerusalem was witnessed by the pilgrim Egeria in about 381-384. During this observance there was a procession of people down the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem. The people waved branches of palms or olive trees as they walked. They sang psalms, including Ps 118, and shouted the antiphon, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The Palm Sunday observance was generally accepted throughout the church by the twelfth century.

Join us this Palm Sunday!

All children are encouraged to participate in the opening procession by gathering in the reserved pews in the back of the Nave for the Blessing of the Palms.  Following the blessing and procession, the children will return to sit with their families for the remainder of the Liturgy.

7:30 a.m. – Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist Rite I

8:45 a.m. – Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist Rite II

10:00 a.m. – Palm Cross Making and Refreshments (Parish Hall)

11:15 a.m. – Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist (Solemn) Rite II

6:00 p.m. – BreakingBread@6 with palms